Connector and loading coil for electric conductors



July 28, 1942. o. c. HoLLoPETER Erm. 2,291,434

CONNECTOR AND LOADING COIL FOR ELECTRIC CONDUCTORS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 30, 1940 4 IIIIIIINIIWNIIIIII'lll/ Il' July 28, 1942. o. c. HoLLoPETER ETAL CONNECTOR AND LOADING COIL FOR ELECTRIC CONDUCTORS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 50, 1940 NN WN. EN

Patented July-2.18, 1942 CONNECTOR AND LOADING COIL FOR ELECTRIC CONDUCTORS Orville 'C. Hollopeter', Englewood, and Frederick W. Earth, Weeht'ken, N. J.

Application october 3o. 1940, serial No. 363,562

. 10 Claims.

This invention relates to connectors and loading coils for electric cable wires, and more particularly to devices for quickly electrically connecting adjacent ends of insulating conducting cables or quickly inserting loading between said adjacent ends, though it isnoted that in the `broader claims the invention is not limited to loading coils or to insulated conductors or cables, nor even to conductors.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved connector of this kind with which adjacent ends of insulated cable, such as field telephone lines used in the field by the arms may be very quickly, strongly and effectively electrically and mechanically connected.

Other objects of the invention are to provide an improved connector with which a loading coil is combined, and to provide a connector with which various types of flexible members may be quickly and strongly connected, and with which insulated conductors may be almost instantly connected without stripping the insulation while effecting a joint which is itself fully insulated.

Additional objects of the invention are to effect simplicity and emciency in such connectors and to provide an extremely simple device of this kind which is economical, durable, effective and reliable in operation, and economical to manufacture and apply.

Still other objects of the invention will appear as the description proceeds; and while herein details of the invention are described in the specification and some of the claims, the invention as described in the broader claims is not limited to these, and many and various changes may be made without departing from the scope of. theinvention as claimed in the broader claims.

'I'he inventive features for the accomplishment of these and other objects are shown herein in connection with two forms of connector each comprising a metal tube having an insulating covering, and one form comprising atube of alined sections insulated apart to which opposite ends of a surrounding loading coil are connected. In each of the forms the tube is provided interiorly with stop means at its mid part, and intermediately with a plurality of sharp-pointed triangular cut-out projections cut from the marial of the tube and integrally joining the metal of the tube at the base of the projection and pointing toward the axis of the tube and inclined away from the adjacent open ends of the tube, whereby when the cable ends are pushed into the tube to said stop means, and afterwards from the tube, the sharp points of the projections willdig through the insulation into firm electric contact with the wires of the cable thus yelectrically connecting the cable ends.

In the accompanying drawings showing, by

way of example, three of many possible embodiments of the invention:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view, partly in elevation, showing one form of tube and its insulating covering;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view, partly in elevation, showing the tube and cable ends as irst inserted;

Fig- 3 is a similar view showing the points engaging the conducting wires;

Fig. 4 shows a section taken on the line 4 -4 of Fs- 3:.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view, partly in elevation, showing the tube of a second form of the invention, the tube being a split tube:

Fig. 6 is an end elevation of the split tube;

Fig. 7 shows a section taken substantially on the line 'I-l of Fig. 5, looking in the direction oi the arrows of said line; y

Fig. 8 is a fragmental longitudinal sectional view, partly in elevation, showing a modified form of cutting the cable end; the section being taken substantially on the line 8-8 of Fig. 5, looking in the direction of the arrows of said line;

Fig. 9 shows astrip of metal with stop lugs and projections cut and stamped thereon, the strip being bendable to` the form of Figs. 5 and 6 in a curving die; and

Fig. 10 is an axial section partly in elevation.

showing the combined connector and loading coil.

Our improved connector is shown electrically connecting adjacent ends I0. Il (Fig. 2) of insulated wire conducting cable. The connector includes a tube I2 of conducting metal flared at both ends I3 and provided with a central impressed annular rib stop I4 around the interior of the tube, the inner diameter of said tube be-v ing about/the same as, or a little larger than, the diameter of the insulated cable, whereby the tube is adapted to receive said adjacent endswith a free or close push t until the adjacent ends of the cable are stopped by said rib stop M.

Said tube is provided with sharp-pointed acute 50 isosceles triangular cut-out projections or darts l5 cut from the material of the tube and integrally joining the mtal of the tube at the base or root- I6 of the projection, said projections being arranged spirally around along the tube on pulled upon'to draw them in an outward direction 55 both sides of said rib stop Il, and pointing toward the axis of the tube and inclined away from the adjacent open ends of the tube.

The nare il of the tubes facilitates the easy insertion of the cables, whereby the cable ends Il, Il may be pushed to said rib-stop Il while the insulation slides on and past the points of the projections Il. which may be somewhat flattenedbytheinsulationasshowninll'ig.2. After the cable ends have been thus inserted, the adjacent cable portions may be pulled upon to draw them in an outward direction from the stop Il (Pig. 3). whereupon the sharp points of the projections Ilwillcatch onanddigintoandthrough the insulation and be forced to a less inclined f position and dig into iirm electric contact with the wires of the cable i! as in Pig. 3, the projec-Y tions Il being so long, relative to the diameter of the tube and the diameter of the wire conducting part of the cable, that when the points have dug into firm contact with the cable wires, tbe projections will still be inclined away from the open ends of the tube, as shown in Fig. 3, thereby holding the end portions il, Ii of both pieces firmly within the tube and holding the wires il of both pieces in good firm electric contact with the points of the projections il and therefore in electric connection with the tube and each other.

As the tube I2 is thus in electric contact with thewlres Il.itisdesirablethatthetubebealso fully insulated. To this end the tubes I2 are at the factory or at least usually before they go to the ileld, covered with a somewhat yieldable or elastic tubular insulating covering I of loom, rubber or other suitable material (Fig. l) which may be pulled over the tube and retained in place by friction.

Fig. 8.

'I'he rib stop Il of Fig. l or the stop lugs il' of Fig. 5 may be used with either tube I2 or I2. The form of invention of Fig. l0 embodies a combined connector and loading coil, as for telephone or other lines. for electrically connecting ends of the insulated wire cables and also loading the line. Said combined connector comprises a pair of alined metal tubes i2a having slightly separated adjacent ends and ared outer ends I3, and provided along the interior of the tube with a plurality of large oval openings 2|, and remote from the openings with a plurality of sharppointed cut-out projections or darts II cut from the material of the tube and integrally joining the metal of the tubes as inFig. 1.

Tubular insulating sections il cover said tubes and extend beyond the outer ends thereof. An insulating disk ila forms stop means separating the ends of the tube and sections.

, A toroidal core 28, 2l, 21 of high magnetic permeability surrounding said tubes on said tubular covering I! is with outer and inner coaxial cylindrical walls 2l, 2O and end walls 21. enclosing an elongated annular coil receiving space 2l.

thelargeopeningsubeingdlledwithtoughim sulanngmaterialutopreventanyoontactb tweenthelugandtubes.

Asmmitotsaidprojectiom ilofthe tubeaoflig.i0areinclinedawayfromthead jacentopenendsofthetube,wherebytheends ofinsulatedcablesil,llmaybepushedintothe tubesandooveringtoaaidatopmeans Maand afterwards pulled in outward direction, whereuponthesharppointsoftheproiections ilwiil digthroughtheinsulationintonrmelectriecom tactwiththewiresiofthecable,saidtoughin sulating material u resisting said pull.

An outer insulating covering ll covers the outer wall and ends of the core, the outer covering 4l, said tubular covering il and the cable insulation cooperating to cover all ofthe metal with exterior insulation. said tubular covering Il' and disk Ma cooperating to insulate the tubes and core from each other.

The invention claimed is:

l. A connector comprising a tube provided interiorlv with a plurality of sharp-pointed projections inclined away from the adjacent ends of the tubeatanacuteangletotheaxis,andanin rbigr stop means remote from the ends of the 2. A connector for electrically connecting ends of insulated wire cables. said connector comprising a tube provided interiorly with stop means near its mid part, and along the interior of the tube with a plurality of sharp-pointed projections inclined away from the adjacent open ends of the tube at an acute angle to the axis: whereby insulated cable ends may be pushed into the tube to said stop means and afterwards pulled in outward direction, whereupon the sharp points of the projections will dig through the insulation intl?l ilrm electric contact with the wires of the ca e.

3. A connector for electri connect ends of insulated wire cables, sililiy connectiiicomprising a tube provided interiorly with stop means near its mid part, and along the interior of the tube with a plurality of sharp-pointed cut-out projections cut from the material of the tube and integrally joining the metal of the tube and inclined away from the adjacent open ends of the tube; whereby insulated cable ends may be pushed into the tube to said stop means and afterwards pulled in outward direction, whereupon the sharp points of the projections will dig through the insulation into iirm electric contact with the wires of the cable.

4. A connector for electrically connecting adjacent ends of insulated wire conducting cable, said connector comprising a tube of conducting metal flared at both ends and provided with a central impressed annular rib stop around the interior of the tube: the inner diameter of said tube being about the same as the diameter of Baid inner wall 2l snugly iits said covering and is 75 the insulated cable, whereby the tube is adapted to receive said adjacent ends with a free or close t until the adjacent ends are stopped by said rib stop; said tube being provided with sharp-pointed acute isosceles triangular cut-out projections cut from the material of the tube and integrally joining the metal of the tube at the base of the projection; said vprojectionsbeing arranged spirally around along the tube on both sides of said rib stop, and pointing toward the axis of the tube and inclined away from the adjacent open ends of the tube; the nare of the tubes facilitating the easy insertion of the cables, whereby the cable ends may be. pushed to said rib-stop while the insulation slides on and past the points of the projections, after which the cable portions may be pulled upon to draw them in an outward direction from the tube, whereupon the sharp points of the projections will catch on and dig into and through the insulation and be forced to a less inclined Aposition and dig into iirm electric contact with the wires of the cable.

5. A connector for electrically connecting ends ofl insulated wire cables, said connector comprising a tube provided interiorly with stop means near its mid part, and along the interior of the tube with a plurality of sharp-pointed cut-out projections cut from the material of the tube and integrally joining the metal of the tube and inclined away from the adjacent open ends of the tube; whereby insulated cable ends may be pushed into the tube to said stop means and afterwards in outward direction, whereupon the sharp points of the projections will dig through the insulation into irnly electric contact with the wires of the cable; the projections being so long. relative to the diameter of the tube and the diameter of the conducting part of the cable, that when the points have dug into firm contact with the Acable wires, the projections will still be inclined away from the openends of the tube; thereby holding the end portions of both. pieces firmly within the tube and holding the wires of both pieces in good firm electric contact with the points and projections and therefore in electric connection with thevtube and each other.

jections being cut from the material of the tube l adjacent open ends of the tube at an acute angle to the axis.

8. A ilat elongated strip of metal provided near the mid part of one face with cut-out transverse stop lugs, and at the same face between the mid part and ends with a plurality of sharp-pointed triangular cut-out projections, said lugs and projections being cut from the material of the strip and integrally joining the metal of the strip at their bases, the projections being inclined away from the adjacent open ends of the strip at an acute angle to the axis.

9. A connector for connecting adjacent ends of insulated, electrically conducting cable, said connector including tubular metal wire receiving end portions, the connector being provided with a stop means to prevent a cable in one portion from reaching the other portion; the inner diameter of each of said portions being about the same as the diameter of the insulated cable, whereby the portion is adapted to receive one of said adjacent ends until the adjacent end is stopped by said stop means; said portions being provided with sharp-pointed acute isosceles triangular cutout projections cut out from the metal of said portion and integrally joining the metal of the portion as the base of the projection; said projections being arranged around and along the portion and projecting toward the axis thereof and inclined away from the adjacent open end, whereby the cable ends may be inserted into said portions and pushed as far as said stop means while the insulation slides on and past the points of the projections after which the cable may be 6. A connector comprising a tube provided in- I teriorly with a plurality of sharp-pointed projections inclined away from the adjacent ends of the tube at an acute angle to the axis; said tube being a split tube and made by passing through a curving die a strip of metal from which cutout mid stop lugs and the pointed projections have been previously formed.

7. A connector for electrically connecting ends of insulated wire cables, said connector comprising a split tube provided interiorly near its mid part with cut-out transverse stop lugs and interv mediately with a plurality of sharp-pointed triangular cut-out projections, said lugs and propulled upon to draw them in an outward direction from the portion, whereupon the sharp points of the projection will catch on and dig into and through the insulation and be forced to a less inclined position and to dig into the insulation. the projections being long enough to dig into rm electric contact with the wires of the cable; said connector including electrical conducting means establishing electrical connection between said portions.

10. A connector for electrically connecting ends of cables, said connector comprising a tube provided along the interior with a plurality of sharppointed projections inclined away from the adjacent open ends of the tube at an acute angle to the axis of the tube: and means near the midpart of the tube for preventing a cable inserted at one end of the tube from reaching to the other end portion of the tube.

ORVILLE C. HOLLOPETER. FREDERICK W. HAR'IH. 

